NEW DELHI: To build a strong pool of AI-skilled professionals in India, the government will support PhD fellows, graduates, and postgraduates, while also establishing AI labs in non-metro cities, Parliament was informed on Friday.
In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada stated that India’s AI strategy aims to position the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence and create a robust, inclusive AI ecosystem.
The government plans to support 500 PhD fellows, 5,000 postgraduates, and 8,000 undergraduates to develop a powerful AI talent base, he added.
This initiative will be backed by a major expansion of infrastructure beyond major metropolitan areas.
“IndiaAI, in partnership with NIELIT, has identified 27 IndiaAI Data and AI labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities nationwide.
“Furthermore, states and union territories have nominated 174 ITIs and polytechnics to set up IndiaAI Data and AI labs,” the minister noted.
Foundational courses on Data and AI — including Data Annotation and Data Curation — approved by NCVET, have been launched at the IndiaAI Data and AI labs to prepare the future workforce for AI-related jobs, he added.
